Hello!Happy almost Spring! Friendship Commanders are heading back to Texas for their second year of Houston Punkfest at the end of April! Also, they're doing a hometown show with RED FANG on May 4th! Tickets are available now HERE.

In addition to those shows, check out the RAISE YOUR VOICE tour! They've decided to travel to some of the states with the lowest voter turnout numbers in recent elections and offer voter registration options right at the shows. In states that have any kind of online voter registration, they'll have electronic registration stations. In states where you still have to fill out paperwork, they'll have that, too! FC believe in everyone's right to have a say, and voting is part of that process. Plus, these shows will be rad hangs. Dates below, and more will be added to this list! Be sure to track them on Bandsintown for updates and additional events.

Last, we know we haven't told you when the new record will be out. Soon, friends. Soon.

Good things are on their way in 2018! FC went into the studio with Steve Albini at the end of November and they have a new album to show for it. Stay tuned for announcements about that release and corresponding tours.

Huge thanks to all who supported TTS releases in 2017. It was such a pleasure to put out the Resolution of Happiness compilation (benefitting Lambda Legal) and FC's JUNEBUG 7" (partially benefitting the ACLU). We have a new Facebook page, so be sure to like us over there and follow the song of the day posts. We're celebrating fifteen years of releasing music this year and it's been a blast to revisit the catalog.

Today is the day! The Resolution of Happiness compilation is out! The nineteen song album can now be purchased on CD or as a digital download.

The release 100% benefits Lambda Legal, na invaluable resource for the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS communities. The contributing bands are from all over the country - and there's even one artist in Berlin! The musical genres span Punk, Country, Singer-Songwriter, Folk, Post-Punk, Experimental, Indie . . . there is truly something for everyone!

The cover art was done by illustrator Karen Mooney (@moongerm) in Chicago, the graphic layout was done by Veronica Leto (@eveyinorbit) and Buick. The mastering was done by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering in Nashville.

Buick Audra here. I'm beyond thrilled to say that you can now pre-order the Resolution of Happiness comp! It will be out on CD and digital download on 6/23, but you can pre-order it now and get one track ahead of time.

This project has been a massive labor of love by a community of musicians and artists who believe in uniting for change. The comp features music by nineteen bands and artists, a stunning cover illustration by Karen Mooney (aka "Moongerm"), impeccable mastering by Alex McCollough of True East Mastering, and graphics and layout by Veronica Leto and myself. It's really something.

The most important thing that I can say about it the comp is that it 100% benefits Lambda Legal, an organization that fights for the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS communities. We must support this important work now more than ever.

We hope to have your support, and we certainly hope you enjoy the music.

Last, I'm heading out on tour with Friendship Commanders next week for about ten days of shows and other creative collaborations. Hope to see you out there!

Happy day: the JUNEBUGEP by Friendship Commanders is out today! We're very proud to be able to share it with you all and hope you enjoy it. It was made in the spirit of collaboration and community, and as such, will partially benefit the ACLU. For this record, FC collaborated with Jesse Michaels (Operation Ivy, Classics of Love), covered a song by Nashville's own Iodine, called in a German translation, and wrote a song for some friends of theirs. It's a diverse and different body of work for them.

We're excited to announce that the new Friendship Commanders EP, JUNEBUG, can now be pre-ordered! It will be released on April 15th, and will only be available on 7" vinyl with digital download. You'll be able to get it at Grimey's in Nashville, at their live shows, and online. Pre-ordered records will ship on April 18th. One song from the EP will be yours as soon as you pre-order your copy. We hope you enjoy it!

This record is special because each song was inspired by or contributed to by people outside of the band. "Fighting Shape" was inspired by BELLS≥ and is dedicated to them. "Tragedy Chaser" was co-written by Jesse Michaels (Operation Ivy, Classics of Love). "Berlin" features a German translation by N. A. Huebsch Jr., and "Swan Dive" was written by Jay Joyce and originally performed by his band, Iodine. In the spirit of community and collaboration, one dollar of every copy sold will be given to the ACLU.

We're calling for submissions to our forthcoming release, Resolution of Happiness, a Radical Resistance Compilation. The proceeds will benefit Lambda Legal, an incredible legal resource for the LGBTQ and HIV+ communities. Please share with anyone you know who might be interested in contributing! For your ease, there is also a Facebook event for it. Details below. Thanks for stopping by!

WHAT: A music compilation to be digitally released by Trimming the Shield RecordsHOW: Submit an original (previously unreleased) piece of musicWHY: Participate in the resistance by pursuing your own happinessWHEN: Submissions are open from February 23 to April 23, 2017

Let's be radically resistant. Let's be happy and purposeful and loud together. Happiness is not pretend, escape, or denial. It is our right - even amidst this time of turmoil, anger, and confusion. We are still allowed to seek happiness in whatever way(s) we each define it. If you are interested, have questions, doubts, excitement, or cheer, send to: trimmingtheshieldrecords@gmail.com. More details about how to participate will be announced in coming weeks.

THANK YOU.

"Hope will never be silent."-Harvey Milk

"Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."-Helen Keller

We're thrilled to announce that Friendship Commanders will be releasing their first 7" record on April 15th, a collection of four songs that were all inspired by or contributed to by outside people. The record is called JUNEBUG and it will be available here, on their site, bandcamp, at their live shows, and in select retail stores. Only 300 copies are being pressed, so be sure to grab one.

Keep and eye on their tour dates to see if they're coming to your city this Spring!

What a year for music this has been! Friendship Commanders released their debut full-length, DAVE, as well as music videos for "Animals of Pride" and "NMA." Check them out if you haven't already! Then, just this past Friday, October 21, they released their fourth annual Halloween single. This year, they covered a lesser known band, Iodine. Iodine were active in the Nashville rock scene in the 1990s, but never quite got the attention they deserved. "Swan Dive" is the opening track to their second (and last) album, Baby Grand. Friendship Commanders have added it to their roster of Halloween covers to raise awareness around addiction as well as money for MusiCares, a wonderful organization which advocates for the well-being of musicians. Money will be donated in memory of Chris Feinstein, bassist for Iodine. The Nashville scene did a nice piece about the FC cover; be sure to read it.

The DAVE album BY FC is out at last! We're so happy to share it with you. If you've already pre-ordered it - thank you! Pre-orders all ship out today, and you should be getting your digital downloads in your inboxes any moment now.

We have hand-numbered cassettes and CDs at the ready. Vinyl is being made, and should ship out in May. Order now!

Again: one dollar of every copy sold (in any format) will be donated to HIV/AIDS programs.

FC leave for tour tomorrow, and their first stop is in Charlotte, NC. Check their tour dates to see if they're coming to your town, and they'll be posting updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.